FALLS CHURCH HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY

The administrative staff at FCHS is committed to improving communication with parents regarding their students’ school attendance.  Research shows that regular and prompt school attendance is connected to student achievement.  With that in mind, attendance procedures have been constructed to help you report and excuse your student’s absence in a timely manner.  The attendance office is located on the first floor across from the main and guidance offices.  FCHS uses a computerized attendance system, called SASI, by which teachers report absences and tardies for each period of the school day.

School Attendance Brochure

School Attendance Brochure - Spanish

Attendance Office Procedures
Attendance procedures can be made most effective by enlisting the aid of parents in promptly reporting any absence.  When it is necessary for a student to be absent from school, the parent must notify the school and explain the absence within 48 hours.  The school will classify the absence as excused or unexcused.  There is a TWO DAY limit to clear absences after which the absences remain unexcused.
Call the automated attendance line each day to report a student’s absence at 703-207-4019.
Written verification for absence and or voicemail is preferred.  If a call is not made to the attendance line on the date of the absence, a note must be brought from the parent/guardian stating the reason for the absence within 48 hours of the date of return.

Please include the following information:

• Correct spelling of student’s legal name
• Grade level of the student
• Date(s) of absence
• Reason for the absence
• Parent/legal guardian’s daytime  telephone
• Parent/legal guardian’s signature (note only)

Absence is defined as:

• Failure to attend class or classes
• Tardiness of 20 minutes or more for block classes and 10 minutes or more for embedded period.

Examples of Excused Absences/Tardies                 Examples of Unexcused Absences/Tardies
Student Illness                                                          All day truancy, skipped classes, sr. skip days
Medical Appointment                                                  Oversleeping/Power outages
Death in the family                                                     Missing the bus or ride
Observance of a Religious Holiday                                Car trouble or traffic problems
Prearranged Absence                                                  Failure to check-in or check-out
Court Appearances                                                     Other reasons unacceptable to administrator
(Straight line on left margin of column above)        
Parents are able to excuse up to 10 absences per school year. After that time, parents must provide documentation from a professional source (doctor, dentist, court) for the absence to be excused.

If the student is absent, the responsibility for initiating make-up work rests solely with him/her. Doing make-up work is required so that the student will profit from the missed work and from future/related instruction.
Extended Absences
The student’s absence from school for an extended period may be excused for:

• Long-term illness (verified by a physician’s note)
• Hospitalization
• Death in the immediate family
• Unusual circumstances
• 
  NOTE:  In accordance with state law and school board policy, any student who is absent for fifteen (15) consecutive school days XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX must be withdrawn from school. Students who have accumulated 5 full-day unexcused absences are referred to Fairfax County’s Truancy Officer. Parents will be requested to attend a meeting with the truancy officer, their student, and the student’s dean.
  Prearranged Absences
  Whenever possible, students are encouraged to prearrange absences at least 48 hours before their absence is scheduled to occur.  All trips, including field trips, college visits, observance of religious holidays, and medical procedures which will take a day or more, are to be prearranged.  Approval for prearranged absences provides students time to complete the missed assignments while they are away and the opportunity to keep pace with the class, while avoiding the requirement to complete make-up and regular work at the same time after the absence.  All assignments assigned by a teacher before an approved prearranged absence begins will be due upon a student’s return.

• The student will bring a note from the parent/guardian to the attendance office stating the following:
• The student’s full legal name
• The relationship to the child
• The reason for the prearranged absence
• Dates of the prearranged absence
• Daytime telephone number to reach the parent/guardian for verification
• Parent/Guardian’s signature
• The attendance officer will attach the approved note to a prearranged absence form which the student must take to his/her teachers and administrator for their signatures.  The teachers will sign the form and write comments if they choose.  The teachers will record the date(s) of absence and provide a list of assignments that will be missed.
• After obtaining the teachers signatures, the student will bring the completed form to the sub-school principal for signature.
• The sub-school principal will review the teachers’ comments, if any.  The sub-school principal may call the parents to share any concerns.
• The student must return the completed form to the attendance office prior to the absence.

School begins promptly at 7:20 a.m. and ends at 2:20 p.m.
Students arriving late to class during the first 20 minutes without a valid excuse will be considered unexcused tardy.  If they arrive after 20 minutes, they will receive an unexcused absence. During seventh period the same rule applies during the first 10 minutes.

LATE ARRIVALS:  YOUR STUDENT IS TARDY

• Students who arrive late within the first 20 minutes of school who do not have a note from a parent should report directly to class.  The teacher will assign them an unexcused tardy.
• The students who arrive late 20 minutes or more are to report to the Attendance Office immediately upon arrival to obtain a check-in pass.
• Students are to present a note from their parent/guardian stating the student’s name, the relationship to the student, the date, the reason for tardiness, and a phone number where a parent can be reached for verification and a signature, or an official note from the doctor/dentist office.
• If the student does not have a note, the tardy or the absence (after 20 minutes or more) will be recorded as unexcused.
• The student will be given an unexcused or excused pass to class.
• If a student receives an unexcused tardy and a parent/guardian does not contact the school within 48 hours with a legitimate excuse, the tardy will remain unexcused.

Check-Out for Early Dismissal

• Student must present a note to the attendance office prior to 7:15 with the following:
• Student’s full name
• Your relationship to the student
• Reason for early departure
• Time of check-out
• Phone number for verification
• Parent/Guardian signature

• A pass will be issued to the student to be released from class.
• Prior to leaving the building the student must report to the attendance office at the designated time to sign out.
• The parent/guardian may also come to the Attendance Office to check out the student or FAX a note to the guidance office FAX #703-207-4125.
• No check-outs will be authorized by telephone.
• Only valid reasons listed under excused absences will be accepted.
• No student is allowed to leave school grounds for any reason without school notification and parental permission. 

Check-Out for Early Dismissal Due to Illness

• Students are to report to the clinic with a pass from their teacher if they are ill during the school day.
• If the student needs to check-out due to illness, the clinic aide with contact the parents for permission.  If the parents/guardians are unavailable, the emergency contacts designated on the emergency care card will be contacted.
• Only parents/guardians and the emergency contacts may pick up students or authorize clinic staff to release students by faxed note to FAX#703-207-4125. 

Falls Church High School Tardy Policy
Tardies of more than 20 minutes are considered absences.

Falls Church High School Attendance Policy

• Fairfax County Public Schools’ and Falls Church High School’s attendance policy requires students to attend classes on a daily basis.
• Students are expected to report to classes on time and remain for the entire instructional period.  The teacher, not the bell, will dismiss students each period.
• Students who are dismissed from class for any reason must have their teacher sign the student’s planner on the hall pass page.
• Hall passes will NOT be issued during the first 20 minutes and last 20 minutes of class.
• Teachers will accurately record class attendance using Classxp within the first 20 minutes of each period.

Curator: Jenifer Shannon & Robert Lee Banner Design: Matti Barker Last Updated: April 10, 2013